The Minimalist Photographer - Light Modifiers
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Today we talk Light Shapers, what do we really need?
Download my E-Book "The Minimalist Photographer: booksbydaniel....
As a photographer, I have owned hundreds of lights, dozens of cameras, and countless other tools of the trade. At some points in my career, I have only held what could fit in a single bag. Other times what could fill a small truck.
I was always able to do my work.
Does the amount of gear you own increase or reduce your productivity and quality of work?
I would say, both.
At this stage in my career, I am once again evaluating what I really NEED to create the work that I WANT to create. This series documents my journey.
Follow this link - eepurl.com/gfJTbn - to download my FREE E-Book "The Minimalist Photographer" which breaks down the gear I talk about here and includes some additional insights.
I'd love to stay in touch and you can find me on these platforms.
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👓 TL;DR DANIELS GEAR
📸 CAMERA
Nikon Z6ii - amzn.to/3VEJwNE
Nikon 24-70 f4 - amzn.to/3WFLOxk
⚡️ LIGHTING - FLASH
Profoto B10x
Two Light Kit with Backpack - amzn.to/3vQtPsp
Single Light - amzn.to/3GwPDiM
Profoto A10
(choose the one compatible with your camera system - amzn.to/3GzRXpa
☁️ LIGHT SHAPERS
Chimera Panel Frame
48x48 Panel Frame - bit.ly/2P47q56
48x48 Full Diffusion Cloth - bit.ly/3f6LT6s
48x48 Half Diffusion Cloth - bit.ly/301XZd0
Chimera XXS Shallow Softbox - bit.ly/CHXXSSB
Chimera Pro 2 Small Softbox - bit.ly/CHiP2S
Chimera 30” Lantern - bit.ly/3GE5WYK
Chimera Speedring - bit.ly/MPchime...
🪜 STUDIO GRIP AND SUPPORT
Clamps and Arms
Super Clamp with Stud - amzn.to/3Ifl3eD
Pony Clamps - amzn.to/3Z6ZSla
iFootage 11” Spider Crab Magic Arm - amzn.to/3QdomoS
Stands
C- Stand - amzn.to/3IiIsMd
Misc Useful Items
V-Flat World Folding V-Flats- amzn.to/3Z837bO
Kupo Nested Apple Box Kit - amzn.to/3vxWB0w
Power Strip with USB - amzn.to/3ChGgRy
25’ Extension Cord - amzn.to/3CdkvST
Tripods
Manfrotto 055 Tripod - amzn.to/3VHEY9f
Manfrotto Hydrostatic Tripod Head - amzn.to/3YZPQlT
iFootage Gazelle Uprise TC6S Carbon Fiber 3-Section Tripod - amzn.to/3Ge0EE2
iFootage Komodo K5 Fluid Head - amzn.to/3VHFvrA
Expendables
Cinefoil AKA “Black Wrap” - amzn.to/3jMUSC4
Rosco Gel Kits - amzn.to/3Cis22V
Tape - amzn.to/3G51LGe
Zip Ties - amzn.to/3iejoLL
Wooden Clothes Pins - amzn.to/3vv2ueW
20x30 Foam Core Board - amzn.to/3VHLkFs
#dnphoto #lightingbasics #danielnortonphotographer
By a pure fluke of chance, I wound up with a lantern softbox before I ever had a conventional one and, once I had started using other modifiers, I found myself utterly shocked that lanterns weren't in more common usage - they're just so easily flattering. Of course, when you revealed that as your "secret" to beauty shoots, I had quite a laugh that I'd apparently been on the right track.
Must haves for me: a cheap 100-120 cm silver umbrella with a diffuser on it and one or two 65cm softboxes.
Rogue Flashbenders are relatively small compared to other light modifiers, but slap a small speedlight and Flashbender on the end of a monopod, and you've got a ridiculously mobile setup that's great for run-and-gun portraits at events/conventions.
Shooting a camera in one hand and holding a light in the other hand is pretty demanding on the deltoids though.
Quickly scoring another video; as I said, my main lights are AD200s, also I do sports outdoors so don't want either too soft light or too much surface in case of wind, so my choice are small reflectors, AD-S7, and umbrellas in the form of silver Deep Space 105 - large enough to soften light quite a bit, deep enough to control it if necessary; while I do carry diffusers, I rather avoid using them.
I use a cheap umbrella, bounce in umbrella with diffusion and can't put on a grid. Regular bounce in umbrella with removable diffusion and I can put on a grid. A diffusion panel sounds like a good thing to have. I mostly use the umbrella that has built in diffusion and can't put on a grid with a GoDox AD200 Pro. Im a two light person with round reflectors.
My on-location kit for modifiers is a 6 ft silver interior umbrella with a removable black cover to make it a reflective or shoot through umbrella along with a diffusion panel that goes across the open end of the umbrella (similar to a photek softlighter) that I use for fill and/or a main light depending on what I'm doing. I usually roll with two. They're tiny when collapsed, and weigh almost nothing. My main light is usually a collapsible 2x2 soft box, or one of the two bigger umbrellas. If I need to light the background, I just use a hard reflector. I usually try to keep it simple if going on location. I usually have two of the 2x2 soft boxes and two of the umbrellas and two standard 7 inch hard reflectors. That gives lots of choice. Of course in my studio, I have oodles of lights and modifiers. It's an embarrassment of riches really as I only regularly use a fraction of what I have on hand, but at the same time, I wouldn't go without all the other stuff as having it meant booking that one job that I wouldn't have otherwise gone for because I didn't have a good way to do it, and these days, it seems like that one job pops up more and more often.
I like the frame you use and have been considering getting one for on location to use as a fill, but that means packing an extra stand (one to hold the frame, another to hold the light), and extra space taken up once set up. The nice thing about the umbrella is it's a huge light source that only takes up the space of a stand, and the whole thing only uses one stand and is super easy to just move around, as it's usually just me when I'm on location.
Six feet?! How do you weigh down such a monstrosity of an umbrella, even a slightest breeze would be caught like on a sail.
I have a small 2x2? Softbox with adapter for speed lights. It is great for quick portraits.
My go to is the Phottix Raja pop up octa box with profoto speed ring. Super fast to set up and take down (as quick as an umbrella) with two separately removable layers of diffusion, removable center reflector and grid as standard inclusions. Next fave is the 150 cm version of the same, comes with same features but a bit of a beast to handle when set up. Third fave is a 10 degree OCF grid.
For on location portraits I am carrying a 2'x3' after watching some of your videos. I like the 36" soft edge. I also will carry a lantern on a windy day for an outdoor portrait. It won't blow away. For anything smaller than 36" I prefer something that folds flat quickly, like the Angler Fastbox. I use the small modifiers for fill light. I don't have the patience for assembling a 4'x4' panel when on location. Thanks for the informative videos!
I don't do portraits, so no gear is needed for that. I do have some flash modifiers for my macro photography.
My two favourites are the Chimera xxs and a Pro 2x3, they produce very use full light with a speedring for my Speedotron M11 heads. Thanks Daniel 😎👍🇨🇦
I'm going to a meet and greet social in the morning. It's hard limiting myself to what can fit in my rolling cart and wear on my back. I settled on a couple of beauty dishes, umbrellas and a yard of ripstop nylon. I bought the grid might well use it.
I have a 2x3 and 2x2 soft box. I just bought a large diffuser that I'm learning to use.
Currently I have a 36' Angler Octagonal Softbox, and a 7' reflector with various light grids. I feel like I'm starting to use my softbox less often now though since I prefer hard light.
Great to see your light modifier choices and tips - Ive not tried a lantern coud be interesting addition though I have too many modifers i think though great to have options!
In my circumstances im mostly doing shoots at the home studio which is an awkward L shape lounge with beige carpet and it is challenging - I find that I change what i use on almost every shoot depending on the needs of the talent and I enjoy providing a range of shots. I use only speedlites as more than enough power for what I do and great for portability and storage - Once technique I use quite often for bright punchy fashiony type full length shots is shooting the flash bare or thru umbrella into the ceiling in my small space, plus maybe an on axis fill. When I do get chance for moodier shots I have a small softbox Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus and also some rogue flashbenders and I still like using shoot thru and reflective umbrellas
@Daniel Norton Photographer I’m just starting out with creating my own light. I have a couple cheap umbrellas, but mainly use my SmallRig 2x3 foot softbox. I am finding it quite versatile. I was thinking of experimenting with a Beauty Dish next, but the more of your videos I watch, the more I am intrigued by that XXS Chimera box. 🤔
Thanks for your tutorials, very inspiring!
Amazing to see the „smallish” bag for this versatile kit. Love the Chimera-softboxes, had a 16x22 „Maxi” ready to go on a small lightstand in the trunk of my car. Shot a ton oft newspaper-type images with it on location.
Two questions: how do you clean the softboxes? And have you tried other speedrings (Impact or other makes) for and with Chimera-softboxes? The original speedrings are hard to get and unbelievably expensive in the EU.
I would love to order the Chimera XXS for delivery to Australia (looks like Adorama doesn't ship to us). And struggling to find another supplier at a reasonable cost?
I used to have a Godox AD200 flash (got destroyed) and used with the Roundflash Dish for on location/ outdoor lighting. That was a great small combo. I now have a Godox AD 300 pro as a replacement and found no equivalent modifier to fit on it. Any suggestions are very welcome.
Does that lantern spread light everywhere?
I’m thinking buying a frame. I saw a few videos of you using it… Daniel, when and why do you use a frame instead a softbox?
More versatility
👍📷😎